Unleashing the Ultimate Power: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Unraveling the Ultimate Boss Tier List

Highlights

Tears of the Kingdom boasts an intense focus on combat, showcasing a diverse array of formidable bosses that include both familiar visages and fresh entities.

The Demon King Ganondorf stands out as the ultimate adversary, flaunting a plethora of daunting abilities that culminate in an epic clash against Link. Regrettably, the game does suffer from lackluster adversaries such as the Sludge-Like, essentially a feeble imitation of the mighty Mucktorok.

Although the bosses in Tears of the Kingdom may not match the extraordinary standards set by those in Breath of the Wild, the game still offers a satisfying array of exciting and unforgettable battles. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom places significant importance on combat. While exploration remains a primary focus, engaging in combat is a recurring element of the gameplay. Tears of the Kingdom primarily features a similar lineup of formidable foes as Breath of the Wild, but with updates to keep both seasoned players and newcomers challenged.

In comparison, the roster of bosses boasts a larger number of fresh faces than familiar ones. Tears of the Kingdom features all of Breath of the Wild's field bosses, while also introducing a variety of new adversaries. The biggest battles in Tears of the Kingdom showcase an abundance of diversity, as they incorporate combat puzzle elements from previous Zelda games. The extent of their impressiveness may be subjective, but it is worth noting that the peaks in Tears of the Kingdom might surpass any found in Breath of the Wild.

S Tier - Tests of Power, Wisdom, and Courage

Demon King Ganondorf

Gleeok

The Demon King, Gleeok, dominates over all others. With weapon switching, an extended health bar, powerful Gloom that erases Heart Containers permanently, and numerous other tactics, Gleeok's reign is unmatched. Additionally, Gleeok is the sole adversary to employ Link's Flurry Rush in battle. This amalgamation of abilities culminates in a captivating depiction of Ganondorf and an indelible final boss encounter, captivating players of any proficiency.

A Tier - Playing To Tears of the Kingdom’s Strengths

Gleeoks claim an honorable second position, demonstrating their prowess as the most formidable and gratifying field bosses in TotK. The King Gleeoks, renowned for their difficulty, manage to combine the fiery, icy, and electrical powers of their three counterparts. Each Gleeok presents a puzzle-filled second phase, challenging players to utilize their own arsenal against these legendary dragons from the beloved Zelda series. These encounters offer a rare and intriguing experience, but only those with expert skills should venture to face them.

Phantom Ganon

Master Kohga

Queen Gibdo

Phantom Ganon consistently generates tension, despite never quite measuring up to the original. The solo version is preceded by Gloom Hands, nerve-wracking substitutes for BotW's Guardian Stalkers. These encounters alone provide enough dynamism before Phantom Ganon emerges as an unavoidable humanoid adversary. In the main quest variant, the number of Ganons is increased, resulting in sheer chaos that conceals their repetitive approach. However, it is the Gloom Hands that truly accentuate the threat posed by this iconic Zelda boss.

Master Kohga offers one of Tales of the Kingdom's most intriguing Side Adventures, showcasing the potential vehicle builds of the Zonai. While some are more impressive than others, the range of encounters with Kohga, combined with an unexpected finale featuring a modified Seized Construct, keeps the Yiga leader endlessly captivating. Kohga's battles may not be exceptional, but they demonstrate the unparalleled versatility of Tears of the Kingdom's Ultrahand.

B Tier - Zelda Brain Teasers

Queen Gibdo is undoubtedly the standout boss in the Temple of Time, showcasing the pinnacle of formidable foes. Despite having the advantage of light and lightning to counteract the Gibdos' damage resistance, defeating the relentless swarm and withstanding the Queen's fierce attacks demands swift wit and strategic thinking. In essence, Queen Gibdo flawlessly combines the classic Zelda boss design with the exhilarating and dynamic encounters pioneered by Breath of the Wild's Blight Ganons.

Frox

Flux Construct

Colgera

Rewritten

Seizing the Construct

The newcomers to the Kingdom's field boss, the Frox and the Flux Construct, provide exhilarating challenges that test the game's mechanics. The sudden emergence of a Frox from the depths may startle inexperienced players, but with the use of explosives and blunt weapons, they become excellent targets for farming. The Flux Constructs, on the other hand, present a series of arm-powered puzzles, with higher-tier Constructs offering various solutions for imaginative players. These encounters remain enjoyable, albeit somewhat repetitive, throughout the duration of Tears of the Kingdom's gameplay due to the rewarding loot they provide.

C Tier - Basic Beasts

The Seized Construct, on the other hand, falls short of the thrilling experience offered by the Spirit Temple. It is merely a straightforward boxing match that can be easily exploited with Zonai Cannons. However, its visually stunning aesthetics compensate for this disappointment. While it may not compare to an epic battle between giant robots like the boss encounter with Colgera at the Wind Temple, the Seized Construct still exudes a similar level of style. Despite its lack of challenge, the immense size of the creature coupled with the exhilarating aerial mobility provided by Tears of the Kingdom creates a captivating spectacle high up in the sky.

Talus

Hinox

Stalnox

Molduga

Marbled Gohma

Mucktorok

Demon Dragon

Field bosses from Breath of the Wild didn't transition smoothly. Battle Talus stands out with its increased interactivity, offering more new features compared to Hinoxes and Stalnoxes. Moldugas, on the other hand, suffered greatly in the game transition due to the absence of freely available bombs and uneven platform placements, resulting in frustration for players dealing with these sand dwellers.

The remaining main quest bosses are not much of an improvement, but they are not tedious either. Mucktorok's mud shark form adds visual appeal to the Water Temple, but the boss is significantly weak against water attacks. Similarly, Marbled Gohma in the Fire Temple is easily defeated with Yunobo's Sage power. The most basic of them all is Ganondorf's Demon Dragon form, which is challenging to lose against. While it provides a satisfying spectacle compared to BotW's Dark Beast Ganon, it still falls short as a final boss.

D Tier - Main Quest Minibosses

Yunobo

Moragia

The minibosses in TotK did not live up to expectations. Yunobo and Moragia were supposed to be challenging bosses with a three-hit structure, but they turned out to be simple and easy to defeat. Additionally, Moragia was designed to be an impressive aerial encounter, but ultimately falls short. On the other hand, the Sludge-Like is just a weaker version of the Mucktorok enemy. While these minibosses add some diversity to the main quest, they are hardly a challenge in the overall grand adventure of Tears of the Kingdom.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.